Compressed air operated liquid dispensing device



June 15, 1937. SCHULZ 2,083,965

COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ay-1 i June 15, 1937. G. SCHULZ 2,083,965 v COMPRESSED AIR OI ERA'IED LIQUID DI SPENSING DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 15, 1937 ear COMFRESSED AER OPERATED LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE George Schulz, Chicago, 111., assignor to E. Edelmann & (3a., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application AugustlZ, 1935, Serial No. 35,842

8 Claims.

This invention relates and pertains to compressed air operated liquid dispensing devices, and has to do primarily with a pump structure using compressed air, or other compressed fluid pressure, [or withdrawing or removing alcohol, oil, fuel liquid, and other liquids from tanks, barrels, cans, drums, or other receptacles or closed containers.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a dispensing structure which will operate upon an air pressure only sufficient to withdraw and raise the liquid to the desired elevation to which the liquid is to be discharged, and which will maintain a predetermined low pressure within the closed liquid receptacle or container, which operating pressure will not vary and fluctuate with changes in or a higher pressure from the source of air supply.

A further object is to embody air pressure control means which will insure maintenance of a low operating pressure within the receptacle or container and which will automatically control the discharge of air into the container from the source of compressed air supply.

Another object is to provide a device of this character including electrically energized means controlled from an energizing circuit which can be extended to or arranged in any desired man ner and location to thus permit distant control of the pump means.

Yet another purpose of my invention is to pro vide a pressure air operated liquid dispensing device which will operate and function within a predetermined low pressure area, and with which the pressure air supply is automatically and fully opened when the minimum operating pressure is reached and the pressure air supply is automatically and immediately closed when a maximum air pressure has been attained within the container or receptacle, the operation of the parts being positive and automatic to fully open and fully close the pressure air supply line as distinguished from a slow and gradual opening and closing.

With these and other objects and purposes in view, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention includes and embraces cer tain novel features of construction and connection and arrangement and assembly of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth in connection with the drawings and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a View in elevation, and somewhat schematically illustrated, showing one embodiment and installation of my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the structure.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure.

As the parts are shown in Figure 1, the pump structure is adapted for use in dispensing or pumping or withdrawing or removing liquid from a liquid storage tank as used upon a submarine or other boat or vessel, for pumping fuel oil for a domestic or commercial heating plant, or for other like installations, or in fact for any use where it is desired to withdraw or discharge any fiowable liquid from a closed container under a predetermined pressure induced by the introduction of compressed air, or other pressure fluid, into the upper part of the closed container.

As here illustrated, the container l is of the closed type adapted to be filled from a filler opening 2, or in any other desired manner, and a cap 3, or other closure, is provided to close the tank or container so that it will be not only liquid but air tight. Liquid will be filled or supplied or stored within the container or tank I to any desired height or depth that will leave a slight air space in the upper part of the tank or container, the liquid level in the present instance being indicated at 4, but it of course being understood that this liquid level will vary at all times during use. A pump base 5 is provided with an externally screw threaded end 6 to be turned and screwed into a correspondingly threaded bushing or other opening in the top of the tank or container i, and this base has mounted thereon a case 1 which is secured to and rigidly mounted upon the base 5 by means of capscrews or other suitable fastenings 8. The base 5 is here illustrated as having a liquid discharge passage 9 formed therein and opening laterally, as at E9, below the point of connection with the case I.

The case 1 has a cylinder opening ll formed therein, and here for convenience illustrated as substantially aligned with the liquid discharge passage 9, but in any event not in any wise communicating with said passage 9 or the discharge outlet Ill thereof. Within the cylinder opening H a sleeve l2 extends from the case I with its opening aligned with the center of the cylinder opening l l, and a piston rod or stem I3 is slidably received within this sleeve 12. A piston structure I4 is mounted on the inner end of piston rod or stem l3 within the cylinder opening ll, and a coil spring 15 is fitted around the rod or stem I3 between the piston l4 and the upper end of the cylinder opening ll so that the piston is normally resiliently urged toward the lower end of the cylinder opening ii.

The case i has a lateral extension [5 at one side which extension is provided with a valve opening i"! in which the valve 58 is mounted for reciprocatory movement. A pressure air inlet port I9 leads Irom he exterior to connect with this valve opening ii, and a pressure air conducting passage 2!! leads from the valve opening i l at a point spaced from the connection of the pressure air supply passage it therewith. The pressure air supply passage ii; is shown connected with one end of the valve opening i7, and the adjacent end of the valve is made of tapered or substantially conical form to thus reduce any piston effect that might otherwise be exerted upon this valve by the pressure of compressed air through supply passage 45, and the valve i8 is packed or is grounded or lapped in so that there will ordinarily be no leakage of air when the valve is closed. While I have shown the pressure air supply passage l9 connecting with the end of the valve opening 5?, this point or" connection can be varied and the form and type of the valve can also be changed, the primary purpose being to provide a reciprocating valve structure capable of fully opening and fully closing to thus accomplish a quick connection or" air supply and a quick and substantially instantaneous closing of the pressure air supply.

The air conducting passage 25 of the case I connects and joins with an air discharge passage 2! formed through the base structure 5, out of communication with the liquid passage 9, and opening through the lower end of the threaded extension to thus be in full and direct commum-cation with the upper part of the interior of the closed tank or container l. A control air supply passage is provided through the base structure 5, out of communication with both the air discharge passage 2! and the liquid discharge passage 9, this control air passage 22 opening at one end through the inner end of the threaded extension 5 to thus be in communication with the upper part of the closed tank or container i, and at its other end opening into the cylinder opening H, on the lower side of the piston I 5. Through this control air passage 22, a direct connection is provided from the upper part of the tank or container 5 into the cylinder opening H.

To accomplish substantially instantaneous movement of the valve E8 to opened and closed positions, I provide electrically energized means, the circuit wires of which can be extended to any desired point and location to thus permit distant control of the mechanism, either automatically or manually, and by substantially any desired means. The stem it has thereon an extension 23 traveling through a slotted opening formed in the sleeve iii, and a toggle switch 24 has the arms 25 thereof disposed substantially Within the path of movement of the lateral extension 23 on the piston rod of stem it. The arrangement of the parts is such that the toggle switch 24 is normally closed to thus complete the circuit through wires 26 and El, and the spring i5 normally urges piston Hi to such a position that the extending arm 23 on the stem i3 is not effective to open the switch 2 However, when pressure is accumulated through passage within the cylinder opening i on the lower side of piston M sufficient to overcome the resilient pressure of spring l5, the piston will be moved upwardly within the cylinder opening it and as the piston stem or red i3 is carried upwardly with the piston the extending arm 23 thereof will engage with the arm 25 of the switch 2 2 and will consequently cause the switch to be opened to break the circuit through wires 26 and 2?.

Upon case E I provide a bearing standard 28 in which a valve operating arm 29 is swingably mounted to thus be disposed in a position substantially over and spaced from the outer end of the valve ES. This arm 25 is made in the form of an armature, and a link 35 is provided to establish connection between the arm 29 and the valve it, so that as the arm 29 is swung upwardly valve i8 will be raised from its seat and will be moved to a position to establish direct and com plete communication between pressure air supply passage :9 and air conducting passage 29, and as the arm 29 is swung downwardly the valve i8 will be moved to a seated position and communication will be immediately and completely cut oil between the passage i5 and 29. 3 3 is provided to normaily resiliently swing the armature bar 29 to a position in which the valve 28 is closed.

An electromagnet (it, of any desired type and construction, is mounted on the outer side of the armature bar or arm 29 and is spaced therefrom when the arm is in the valve closing position. The circuit wire from switch 2d is connected with the electromagnet 3i, and a circuit Wire 32, paired with circuit wire 26 and from any suitable source of supply, is also connected with this electromagnet.

In the present instance I have shown a compressed air supply pipe 33 leading to and connected with the case i in communication with the pressure air supply passage E9, and schematically I have illustrated an air pump 34 operated by a motor to store air under pressure within a tank from which the pressure air supply pipe leads. vided in pipe and any suitable control switch means 38 can be provided in the circuit 39 by which the air compressing motor 35 is operated.

A pipe til can be connected with the liquid discharge passage 9 and be extended below the level of the liquid within the tank or container i, and a liquid discharge pipe ii can be connected with the branch I0 thereof and can be extended to any point where it is desired that the liquid shall be discharged. pipe ll can be accomplished through valve 42, or in any other desired manner.

As the discharge of liquid is accomplished through the storing of air or other fiuid pressure within the upper part of the closed tank or container I, it will be app 'eciated that the liquid withdrawal and discharge can be arranged at some point separated from the connection of the base 5 with the tank or container, and in the present instance I have illustrated pipe 13 extending into the tank or container and having con nected at its outer end a liquid discharge pipe 44 controlled by valve Thus it will be seen that the liquid can be withdrawn and discharged from the closed tank or container I through passages 9 and IQ of the base 5, or through independent and separately installed discharge outlet connections.

Current can be supplied to the circuit 2fi-32 from any suitable source, the source of supply to this circuit and to circuit 36 being schematically illustrated in Figure l as being independent batteries, and as has been stated, the circuit wires can be extended to any desired and convenient point to there be controlled by any automatic,

A coil spring A pressure air supply valve 3'! is pro- Suitable control of the discharge manual or other switch or control means. In the present instance I have illustrated a switch 65 in the circuit 26-42, for manual'control of the parts.

While I have referred to the circuit 2 as being of the toggle switch type, it will be appreciated that many forms and types of switch means can be employed in this connection, and that operating association with the piston it can be accom plished in many other manners than the specific form illustrated, the primary object and purpose being to associate with the moving piston i l some switch or circuit control means which will be ordinarily closed and will complete the circuit when the pump mechanism is in operation, and

which upon accumulation of the maximum desired working pressure within the closed container will be actuated by movement of the piston id to break the circuit and consequently permit closing of the valve i8, which valve is normally held in open position through the attraction of armature arm 29 by electromagnet 3!, while the pump is in operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an air pressure control for air operated liquid pumps which is extremely sensitive and which is positive and almost instantaneous in its actuation and operation to maintain a pumping pressure within a closed container between predetermined maximum and minimum limits. The maximum and minimum, and the working pressure, can be governed by changing the spring E5, or otherwise changing the parts so that the piston I l will be responsive to other pressures accumulated within the upper part of the container which has the passage 22 leading therefrom to the piston opening l I.

While I have herein shown and described only certain specific embodiments of my invention and have suggested only certain possible installations and uses, and forms and constructions and arrangements and assemblies of the parts, it will be appreciated, and is consequently to be understood, that many changes and modifications can be made, to suit particular installations and conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A control means for an air operated liquid dispensing device comprising with a closed liquid container, a case connected with said liquid container having a compressed air supply passage therethrough, a valve controlling said compressed air passage, electrically energized means including an electric circuit associated with said valve to open the same to permit supply of compressed air to the container, fluid pressure actuated means within the case to break the circuit upon attainment of a maximum desired pressure within the container, and an air course through the case opening at one end to the pressure actuated means and at its other end to the container.

2. A compressed air operated liquid dispensing device comp-rising with a closed liquid container, a case connected with said liquid container having a compressed air supply passage therethrough and provided with a liquid outlet passage, a valve controlling said compressed air passage, electrically energized means including an electric circuit associated with said valve to open the same to permit supply of compressed air to the container, air pressure actuated means to break the circuit upon attainment of a maximum desired pressure within the container, said case having an air passage leading from theair space of the liquid container to the air pressure actuated means, and means to normally close said valve.

3. A compressed air operated liquid dispensing device comprising, with a closed liquid container, a case connected with said container having a compressed air passage leading to the container and provided with a liquid outlet passage, a valve in said compressed air passage, electrically energized means to open said valve, said case having an air passage therein leading from the container, and piston actuated means in communication with said passage operated upon attainment of a predetermined pressure within the container to render the electrically energized means inoperative to thus permit closing of the valve and consequent cutting oil" of the compressed air supply.

4. A compressed air operated liquid dispensing device for use with a closed liquid container comprising, a casing connected with the upper part of the container and having a compressed air supply passage therethrough, a liquid discharge pipe leading from the lower part of the container, a valve in said compressed air supply passage, a cylinder opening in said casing having a passage therefrom communicating with the interior of the container, a piston in said cylinder opening, electrically energized means including an energizing circuit associated with said valve to open the valve and permit passage of air when the electrical means is energized, and switch means associated with said piston to break the circuit upon attainment of a predetermined maximum air pressure within the container.

5. A compressed air operated liquid dispensing device comprising, a casing to be connected with a closed liquid container and having a compressed air supply passage therein, a liquid discharge pipe; a valve in said passage to control the supply of air therethrough, electrically energized means to fully open said valve, means to fully close said valve when said electrical means is de-energized, a circuit to said electrically energized means, a switch in said circuit, means actuated by attainment of a predetermined maximum pressure within the container to throw said switch to break the circuit and de-energize the electrical means to permit closing of the valve, and an air passage in said casing leading from the container to said last mentioned means.

6. A compressed air operated liquid dispensing device comprising, a casing to be connected with a closed liquid container and having a compressed air supply passage therein, a liquid discharge pipe leading from said container, a valve in said passage to control the supply of air therethrough, electrically energized means to fully open said valve, means to fully close said valve when said electrical means is de-energized, a circuit to said electrically energized means, a switch in said circuit, said casing being provided with a cylinder opening and having a passage leading therefrom to communicate With the interior of the closed container, a piston in said cylinder, and means associated with said piston to open the switch to break the circuit and consequently de-energize the electrical valve opening means to permit closing ofthe valve and consequent cutting off of the compressed air supply when a desired maximum pressure has been attained within the container.

'7. A compressed air operated liquid dispensing device comprising, with a closed container having a liquid discharge connection therefrom through which liquid will be withdrawn upon attainment of fluid pressure in the upper part of the container, a casing having a compressed air supply passage therethrough, a valve in said passage, a swinging armature arm, a connection from said valve to said armature arm to open and close the valve as the arm is swung, means normally exerting force upon said arm toswing the same to close the valve, electrically energized means to attract said armature arm to swing said arm to open the valve, a fluid pressure operated switch in the circuit with the electrically energized means, and a fluid passage-through the casing from the container to the pressure operated switch.

8. A compressed air operated liquid dispensing device comprising, with a closed container having a liquid discharge connection therefrom through which liquid will be withdrawn upon attainment of fluid pressure in the upper part of the container, a casing having a compressed air supply passage therethrough, a valve in said passage, a swinging armature arm, a connection from said valve to said armature arm to open and close the valve as the arm is swung, means normally exerting force upon said arm to swing the same to close the valve, electrically energized means to attract said armature arm to swing s 'd arm to open the valve, a current supply cir uit to said electrically energized means, means actuated by attainment of a predetermined pressure within the container to break the circuit and deenergize the electrical means to permit closing of the valve and consequent cutting off of the compressed air supply, and a fluid passage through the casing from the container to said last mentioned means.

GEORGE SCHULZ. 

